Internal-combustion engine



April 28, 1953 L. E. FOWLER INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE a Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 7, 1948 v wmu w w x w r a April 1953 E. FOWLER 2,636,487

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. KayarJZ'FZn/Zen April 1953 E. FOWLER 2,636,487

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 /"l I *4 "A I Y I b April 28, 1953 L. E. FOWLER I 2,636,487 INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 J INVENTOR.

April 28, 1953 L. E. FowLEi 3 INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 a Slieets-Sheec a INVENTOR.

Zea/74x2 if. FEW/err Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Leonard E. Fowler, Detroit, Mich. Application December 7, 1948, Serial No. 63,964 3 Claims. (Cl. 123-73) This invention relates to internal combustion engines and, in particular, refers to a method of and means for controlling the mixture of air and fuel.

In the thermodynamics of internal combustion engines it is well understood that the determination and the production of the optimum airfuel mixture ratio is a difficult and complex process because of the many variables involved. The optimum value of this ratio is affected by variables such as load on the engine, temperature of the engine, operating characteristics desired; and, even if the value of this ratio is satisfactorily determined, its actual production is complicated by variables such as humidity, and atmospheric pressure and temperature, which vary with altitude as well as with weather conditions and which affect the density and weight of air introduced into the engine.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved mixture controlling mechanism adapted to compensate automatically for such variables and to simply and dependably maintain the optimum mixture ratio under a wide range of operating conditions.

From the practical standpoint there is one variable medium which satisfactorily integrates the other variables and may be made to serve as an indicator of the air-fuel mixture ratio that has been found by experience to be most satisfactory under the complex internal conditions which it indicates. This medium is the pressure of the mixture within the engine. In carrying out my invention the engine pressure is employed as an index during each compression phase or precompression phase of the operation of the engine to serve as a measure of the weight of air which has been introduced into the engine during the preceding induction phase. Such pressure is further used to control and regulate the weight of fuel introduced in order to satisfy the desired mixture ratio in view of the weight of air introduced.

It is therefore a more particular object of this invention to provide an improved method and means for utilizing the engine pressure to regulate in a desired manner the rate of fuel feed to the engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an improved method and apparatus whereby the air-fuel ratio is automatically variable in virtually any desired pattern in response to variances of the pressure of the charge; which pressure is, as indicated, employed as a measure of the mass of the air charge. I

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the present disclosure in its entirety.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of fuel metering apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, indicating the arrangement thereof with respect to a two-stroke-cycle gasoline engine shown somewhat diagrammatically in end elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view with parts broken away, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a somewhat modified metering mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a two-stroke-cycle gasoline engine of another modified form, equipped with fuel metering mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing another modified metering arrangement;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinalsectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a fuel metering construction embodying structure illustrated in Fig. 1 but further adapted for use in a fourstroke-cycle engine;

Fig. 10 is a slightly reduced cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 10-40 of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a representative polar diagram of crankcase pressures in a two-cycle engine, showing the duration of maintenance of pressure communication with the crankcase for fuel feed control; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of a modified fuel metering valve construction.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a conventional two-stroke-cycle crankcase compression single-cylinder engine from which the manner in which the invention may be applied to multi-cylinder two-stroke-cycle engines of various constructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The engine illustrated in Figs. 1-3 has a block I and head 3 with cooperating apertures to provide a cylinder bore 5 and a water jacket 1 surrounding the bore. The block 1 has an inlet passage 9, an exhaust passage 1 l, and a transfer passage :2, all of which open directly into the bore and are covered or uncovered by the reciprocable piston E3 in various portions of its movement. A connecting rod i5 permits the piston 53 to rotate the crankshaft H. The crankshaft is journaled in suitable bearings IS in the crankcase 2i and may have spaced counterbalanced throw portions 23 joined by the'pin 25 to which the rod 55 is pivotally connected. When the piston 53 is at the top of its stroke, the passage 9 is uncovered so that a mixture of air and fuel from the carbureting mechanism 21, which is connected to passage 9, flows into the crankcase 2i where it is compressed by the piston on its downward stroke. At or near the bottom of its stroke, the piston 13 uncovers the exhaust passage H to permit the escape of burned gases and also uncovers the transfer passage it so that the fuel mixture under compression in the crankcase passes into the cylinder 5 above the piston where it is compressed further on the upward stroke and then fired by the plug 29.

As hereinabove indicated, the-pressure of the mixture in the crankcase isa function of the mass of the air charge and is employed to regulate the rate of fuel feed to mcdifygeifect of the conventional throttle control in such manner as to compensate for variations'in the air charge, and so maintain most efiicient engine operation despite such variations. I prefer to use the crankcase pressure as such a regulating factor during only a relatively brief portion of the cycle comprising a portion within which the-pressure is substantially conFtant. interval" such as that designated 22 in 11 when both. the inlet port and the transfer port i2 are closed by the piston 53'; which is at about 120 past top dead center, although it will be recognized that this is subject to variation. In order to prevent fluctuations I also prefer that the crankcase pressure be operatively connected to the regulating mechanism foronly a bri f period during each cycle. As shown, this period may be of the order of ten degrees of the cycle;

The specific features of design of. pressure-' responsive mechanism may also be varied widely in the practical application of my invention. This mechanism is designed to meter the fuel in such manner as to maintain the-mo t desirable ratio under varying operating conditions and at different speeds.

One form ofpressure-responsive carbureting or.

regulating mechanism 2'! which may beemployed is shown inFigs; 1 W3, and includes acoverufil and ahousing 33 aflixed: thereto" in asuitable manner. The cover 31 has an air inlet passage 35 thereinand is attacherdlby afianget'l to the block I so that the inlet passages, .35 and dare in alignment. the passage; 35 may be regulated in the usual manner by the throttle valve 3s. The cover 31 carries a tube ii which projects into theventuri throat 43 of the passage 35 to provide the fuel jet. The tube ti receives fuel vfromthe chamber (55 The quantityofair flowing through.

This portion may comprise an of the housing 33, the fuel flow being regulated by the tapered metering pin 5'! which is sliclable in the tube. may be longitudinally contoured to vary. the air/fuel ratio in a manner whichwillbecome selfevident hereinafter,

Fuel from any suitable source is admitted to the chamber ,5 through a passage is'which may be formed in the cover 3 The level of fuelin the chamber 45 may be cunl rolled by a float 52 In addition to its taper, the pin 95.

therein which has a tapered plunger 53 which, when the float reaches a predetermined level, engages a tapered seat 55 in the passage 9 to pre vent further flow of fuel to the chamber iii.

In order to facilitate its adjustment relative to the tube H, the metering pin t! has a transverse arm 5? suitably amxed thereto. The arm 5? is slidable in a suitable slot 59 in a cylinder of that is provided Within the housing 33. It is rigidly connected by suitable means to a piston that moveswithin the cylinder. This piston is yieldably urged in an upward direction by means of 2. compression spring 65 which is inserted between the underside of the upper piston surface El" and a shoulder formed on an adjusting plug 69 that is-threaded into the housing 33 to provide means for regulating the resilient biasing force on the piston. An adjusting screw H may be threaded into the. cover 31 and directed to bear upon the top 5? of the piston 63 so as to limit its upward movement and thus the minimum size opening which the pin l'a'can produce in the jet tube The cover 3i is provided with a passage 13 which opens-onto the top 6'! of the piston 53. f'he con- 7 duit "i5 is connected at one end to mean; responsive to variations of crankcase pressure, and a suitable pressure fitting H connects its other end to the passage 13 to deli'ver'to the top of the piston 63 apressure which follows such variations of crankcase pressure. the'condu' 1'5 receives pressure for only a brief period in the cycle, all connections are made pr'essure tight, so that this pressure is maintained. during the entire cycle. For this purpose, the piston 83 may be provided with circumferential sealing rings 19 to prevent the passage thereby of the crankcase mixture intothe chamber Any of various means may be employed to effeet 2 only anintermittent pressure connection between the crankcase 2| and the pressure-responsive metering control piston 53'. A simple and preferred means includes a longitudinal passageB! which extends axially through a part of the crankshaft: and opens within the crankcase through one crank cheek- 23, whereby passage 81 is at crankcase pressure; The crankshaft also has a radial passage. 83- communicating with and which receives pressure from the passage 8i and which is in intermittent registration with a fixedpassage 85- thatlis formed in the bearing bushing i9 and'crankcasebearing supportpoi tion Hand to which the conduit 15 is connected by a suitable fitting 5.7.

the crankcase 2| and cylinder 6% through the passages 8| and 83in the crankshaft ll, fixed passage 85 in the crankcase 2| and bearing i9.

andcontinues only for aperiod (dependent upon the. sizes ofthe mating openings of the pas-- sages'83. and85) sufficient to insure that the piston 63' will accurately follow inter-cyclic variations of crankcase pressure. As already indicated,,becaus e of the pressure-tight fittings, crankcase pressure ismaintained on the piston 63 for the balance lofthe cycle after? the connection between the passages 83 and B5 is broken by rotation of the crankshaft H. The piston t3 therefore assumesa. position ofequilibrium dependent upon the extentto which the springfii,

Since,- as indicated above,

At a point in the cycle which is dependent upon the relative'positions of the radial passage 83 andithe crankpin 25, and which may be, selected as indicated in Fig. 11, pressure communication is established between must be compressed to counterbalance--the-.force-: exerted on the head 61 of the piston by cranks- The position? of the metering. pin 47 is directly dependent-conx-theiposition:ofr the-piston 53 because of their rig-id interconned' tion through the arm 51, and is therefore direct- 1y relatedto and varies with changes ofthepressure in the crankcase 2| at the relatively-:- short interval of registrationof.theapassagesr83 case pressure;

and 85. This pressure is substantially constant during each such intervaLbut may vary ineither-- direction from cycle-to-cycle, although. such.-

changes are-relatively slow.- Thus the-metering pin only moves when the pressureat theinterval of communication with the crankcase has... changed from the pressure obtaining-during thesame interval of the precedingcycle. The movement of the metering pin is accordingly relative-- ly slow, and therefore there isno difficulty due to the intertiaof thelpartslsuchas would be encountered if pressure communication weremaintained throughout the cycle.

Inasmuch .as the cross-sectional areas ot the pin 41 may. be axially varied. in any desired manner, the size of theopening through which fuel passes into the jetltube. 4| andthus the weight of fuel injected per cycle may bB-COIlr-r trolled by and in any desired relationto thepressure developed in the crankcase 25;

of non-uniform taper adapted 'toso varythe-rela-v tive rate of fuelfeed'throughan orifice plate ME forming the bottom of 'themetering tube.

MB. The passage MA'in'the tube is.enlarged sufficiently so that inthis embodment it doesnot coact with the pin in the metering function.

A modified form of pressure-responsive mechanism for moving themetering pin isshown .in Fig. 4. In this construction, the jettube B92 is provided at its lowerend vvith a reservoir- 94 that receives fuel'from the-chamber 451 through a passage as. The rate of how through the passage 93 is under the control'oi. the metering needle or pin 95- which. has a. taperedendfill extending therein. The pin 95Ihas a rearwardl'y.

or upwardly presenting shoulder. 99 which lenages a diaphragm plate on the underside of-the= The diaphragm I M is. disposed in mating cavities its in the carburetor.

flexible diaphragm It I.

cover 3! and a'cap ifie'ihas its outer periphery clamped between circumferential fiang'eson these members, as shown at H37 A.-cmhinedspring. retainer and. upper diaphragm plate l 03 is thread ed on the pin B5'to clamp the diaphragm lei against the shoulder 99. The spring lll9is inserted between the upper diaphragm plate its and an adjustable stop Hi whichis threaded into the cap Hi5 and yieldably urges the pin.

95 downwardly into thepassage 93. .'The outer end of the pin 95 has a head i3..formed thereon.

which engages the outer end of an adjusting bushing H5 that is threadedinto the stop ML. The stop ill may be used to regulate the com-- pression on spring we andthus pressure required to move the pin 95. The bushing. H5 may be used to compensate for the adjustment of the stop 8 l l vand to control the minimum size.

of opening which the pin 95 can produce.

Pressure is intermittently admitted by suit? able means, such as that shown in Figs- 1' to 3. to the conduit 15 which is connected to a passage 13 that opens into the cavity we on the under.- side of the diaphragm Nil.

Fig. 12 is an illustrativedepiction of 1a. metering pinxilB'l.

If. this pressure is sufficient to overcome the initial setting; of. the

spring; I 09;: it lifts the. diaphragmal fl'lpand with; i it .the pin .95 to control theamount of-;.fuel .ad-.- mitted to the jet 89 through orifice-93-in a desiredrelation to the crankcase pressure." The; pin 95 5 is providedwitha closeslidinggfitzat; It? inwthe cover 3i" sothat pressure.=does:notrleakrthereby Pressure is thus maintained;substantially;-constant on the diaphragm,- l 0| throughout thecycle:

In Figs.- 5 to 3 pressure-responsive iatuelzmeter- I ling. ymechanismsessentially :similar to those: already;v described are shown in conjunction with a tWOr-Stl'Okfi-CYCIG engine of. thertype which: is

described and claimed in the,-;-present-'inventor s PatenttNo. 1,986,630. This engine-has.- a *number';

r of significant advantages over-the more convem tional engine already-shown,-,several-of which; arepointed-out insaid patents In-this {engines the actual mixingof. air and .fuel.= takes=. place in .the crankcase .21 rather than 5 in the air in: g takepipe, as-in the more conventional..engine.-

shown in Figs. 14;

point in the cycle.

As shown in Fig. 5, the crankcasestructure: 2i surrounding the bearing. lE lis. formed-.-,so-as- ;-.to performsubstantially. the functions. of cover 3 l previously described, although the. .fuel. feeding means does not function, as a: carburetor,

Thus the. bearing supporting, portion.2-l' also. Fuel. -inlet meteringtube ll ismountedin. a manner supports the fuel feed control housing .33.

generally similar to the .iet tubeull of the first embodiment the tube an: serves as aconduit and to coact with vmetering valve pi-ndl. The. other structural features :of the fuelfeedingand. controlling. means contained; withinthe housingtd of this embodiment; including-lthefuel.

inlet passage as, maybe similar to those already described in connection with Fig. 1. and. are therefore identified by the same reference nu.-

r mere-ls. The .rneter-ing pin 41 is shown as-ofo0 uniformtaper, but its contour may of course be varied insuch manner as to...varythe rate. of

fuel feed non-uniformly with respect to pressure changes. The crankcase section .2! hassanad-r .iusting-screw-lli for thepiston 63 and is-provided.

- with a passage 33 opening. onto the top M of the. piston for transfering crankcase ,pressu-re there. to. The shaft. bearing 8 and the crankcase. structure, 2-? have thefixed.pressure-receiving 0 passage 55 with which the radial passage 83.411.

the crankshaft H is inintermi-tten-t-z registra-.

tionias heretofore-described: The passages 85. and'l3 are connected by -a common cavity I21. suitably formed'in the. crankcase sectien. 2 15. 5 In addition to the passagefihthe crankcase section 25 and the bearing l9 are, as indicated.- above, ..adapted to-reeeive the metering tube H,. which may be threaded therein, as shown at 1%,-

so that the tube passagelllaissalso inintermit 7o tent registration with the radial crankehaftnas sage. 83. I The crankshaft passage communi cates with a longitudinal passage. 32% in theshait 57.. Th-ispassage, unlike ;its -counterpart,upas sage .81 of. the first embodiment, does-not pen. '15 axially; through the inner; face of the check. 23}

but is instead connected to a radial passage I21 which opens into the crankcase through the outer periphery of the check 23.

In the construction of Figs. and 6, when the passages 83 and 85 are in registration, crankcase pressure is transmitted from the shaft passages l21 and I25 through cavity [2| to passage 13 in the crankcase section 2|" and thus to the top 61 of the piston 63. This moves the arm 51 and metering pin 41 to a predetermined position in the metering tube passage Ma so that a weight of fuel bearing a desired relation to the crankcase pressure may be passed through the tube 4|. The tube 4! is positioned in the crankcase section 2| so that the shaft passage 83 re isters therewith when the piston is is moving outwardly or upwardly to compress the charge which was just used to move the piston 63 and which has been transferred through passage [2 to the upper part of the cylinder 5. At this point in the cycle, the combined effect of crankcase suction and centrifugal force on fluid in passage l21 reduces the pressure in passage 83 to less than atmospheric. Thus, when the tube passage Ala and the crankshaft passage 83 register, atmospheric pressure is sufficient to force fuel through crankshaft passages 83, I25, and I21 into the crankcase. It will be evident for reasons already indicated that the rate of fluid flow through tube AI will bear a desired relation to the crankcase pressure.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the manner in which the engine of Patent No. 1,986,630 and the fuelmetering system of Fig. 4 may be combined, this combination being a modification of the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The crankcase section 2 I" is adapted to perform the functions of the cover 3!" of Fig. 4, but in place of the intake passage 35 is provided with the bearing i9 which rotatably supports the crankshaft l1. A passage I31 is formed in the crankcase section 2!" and bearing l9 which is adapted to receive pressure fluid from the crankcase passage 83 and deliver it directly to the underside of the diaphragm l0l, thus eliminating one of the passages 13 and 85 heretofore required for this connection. The remaining features of construction of the device shown in Figs. '7 and 8 are preferably identical to those already described. It will be recognized, therefore, that the weight of fuel mixed with each charge of air in the crankcase bears a predetermined relation to the pressure of the preceding charge.

Those skilled in the art will realize that the invention may be used with many types of engines in addition to those represented by the embodiments of Figs. 1-6. For example, in Figs. 9 and 10, it is adapted to a four-stroke-cycle engine of the T-head type, although the details of the engine are of course subject to variation. forming in themselves no part of my invention. In this embodiment it will be recognized that the pressure-responsive metering devices and carbureting mechanisms shown in Figs. 1-4 may be employed without modification, but that different means must be provided for intermittently connecting these mechanisms to the air/fuel charge being compressed in the engine cylinder, this connection being established preferably just prior to ignition.

In the instant application to a four-strokecycle engine, the carbureting and metering mechanism 21 of Figs. 1 and 2 is used without modification, hence in Figs. 9 and reference numerals that were employed in the original figures are repeated and the above discussion of the manner in which the mechanism functions is again applicable. The carbureting mechanism 21 is aligned by suitable means with the fuel mixture inlet passage 20! that is formed in the block 203 and is under the control of a conventional valve 205. An exhaust passage 201 is formed in the block 203 which is controlled by the exhaust valve 209. The passages 20l and 201 open into a cavity 2 formed on the underside of the head 2 [3 which is in full communication with the cylinder bore 2l5. In order to provide pressure for actuating the fuel metering mechanism, a transverse passage H1 is formed in the block which opens into the bore M5 at a predetermined distance from top dead center. Pressure communication through the passage 2I1 is under the control of a suitable valve, which may be a cam-actuated poppet valve 2! as shown. The passage 211 is connected beyond the valve 219 to the pressure conduit 15 and thus provides the desired communication between the cylinder M5 and the piston 63 during the interval when the valve is open and the port 2 l1 uncovered, which interval is preferably a relatively short one of substantially constant pressure, as previously indicated.

The piston 22l in the bore 2 l5 drives the crankshaft 223 through the connecting rod 225. A camshaft 221 may be provided for the valve 219 and driven by a gear connection 223 with the crankshaft 223. Camshafts 229 and 23I for the intake and exhaust valves 205 and 209, respectively, may be driven through gear connections with the camshaft 221. In the conventional manner these camshafts rotate at half the speed of the crankshaft 223, hence, by proper design and positioning, the camshaft 221 may be adapted to open the valve 219 at a predetermined point in the cycle for a predetermined period. As indicated in Fig. 10, the cam of shaft 221 is positioned to operatively connect the passage 2l1 to the conduit 15 just prior to firing of the charge, but is designed to give only a short dwell or period during which this connection is effected. The connection thus provided by the valve 2! and passage 2 I1 is therefore, in a functional sense, similar to that provided by the crankshaft passages 8i and 83 of the previous embodiments. Thus, the improved results hereinbefore described in connection with two-strokecycle engines are also obtainable in four-strokecycle engines by metering the inlet fuel in accordance with the pressure of the charge.

In the case of engines having direct fuel injection to the cylinders it will be understood that the fuel-feed-regulating means may readily be controlled in accordance with the principles of this invention.

It will be readily apparent that the principles of this invention may be embodied in many forms, hence the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific details of construction and application hereinbefore set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of operating a tWo-stroke-cycle crankcase compression internal combustion engine which comprises introducing fuel to the engine and utilizing the crankcase pressure for less than about 2% during the period of about to past top dead center to regulate the amount of fuel introduced in a subsequent cycle.

2. The method of operating a two-stroke-cycle crankcase compression internal combustion engine which comprises introducing fuel to the troduced to the engine, and pressure-transfer means operably connecting the pressure-responsive means to the fixed passage.

LEONARD E. FOWLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 434,171 Baldwin Aug. 12, 1890 1,022,803 Troutt Apr. 9, 1912 2,470,709 MacMillan May 17, 1949 

